Means for actuating gas-discharge lamps



OC- 7,1952 T. cURzoN MEANS FOR ACTUATING @As-DISCHARGE LAMPS Filed July20, 1949 T (Ia/11 Z 017./

Patented Oct. 7, `19,52.

MEANS Fon ACTUATING Gas-DISCHARGE LAMPS Thomas Curzon, London, England,assgnor to C. A. V. Limited, London, England Application July 20, 1949,Serial No. 105,824 In Great Britain July 22, 1948 rIhis invention hasfor its object to provide a simple means for actuating a gas-dischargelamp from a low Voltage` source of direct current such as a battery.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating two embodiments of theinvention.

In the embodiment of the invention represented by Figure 1, for use inactuating a gasdischarge lamp from a 2li-volt battery, I employ anenergy-storing inductance a the value of which is appropriate to theamount of energy to be discharged through the lamp, and consisting inpart of a winding one end of which is adapted for connection to oneterminal of the battery b, the other end being adapted for connection ofone terminal of the filamentary electrode c of the lamp d. The otherillamentary electrode e of the lamp has one terminal connected to theother battery terminal, so that the battery b and the inductance a arein series with the lamp electrodes c, e. To the other terminals of theelectrodes c, e of the lamp is connected a condenser f. Also anelectromagnetic interrupter g is connected to the ilrst mentionedterminals of the two electrodes of the lamp, so that the interrupter isin parallel with the lamp electrodes and the battery, the saidinductance a serving as the electromagnet for actuating the interruptor.Any conveniently arranged switch h may be provided for controlling theconnection of the system to the battery.

When in action, current, in each cycle oi' operations, iirst ows throughthe inductance and the normally 'closed contacts of the interrupter gthus causing energy to be stored in the inductance. Then the interruptercontacts are separated by the electromagnetic action of the inductance,causing the stored electromagnetic energy oi the system to be dischargedthrough the lamp. With the re-closing of the interrupter contacts thecycle is repeated.

Instead of arranging the inductance and interrupter in the manner abovedescribed. their relative positions may be interchanged. But in eithercase, no current passes to the electrodes while the interrupter isclosed.

When it is required to operate simultaneously two or more lampsconnected in parallel, an arrangement as shown in Figure 2 may be used.In this example, three lamps d, d1, d2 are provided. The arrangement ofparts associated with the lamp d is similar to that shown in Figure 1excepting that the part g is a two-way interruptor adapted to controlboth the inductance a of lamp d and the similar inductance al of lampd1. The interruptor contacts which control the inductance a are normallyclosed, and are opened by excitation of the inductance a. The separatingof these contacts closes those in the circuit of the inductance a1 andthe latter then causes the switch g1 to close for closing the circuitcontaining the inductance a2 associated with lamp d2. The one battery bor other source serves to supply energy to all the inductances. Themovable contact of the switch g is vibrated under the intermittentaction of the inductance a, and the actuation of the switch g isaccompanied by actuation of the switch g1.

By this invention the actuation of a. gas discharge lamp, or two or moreassociated lamps, from a battery or other low-voltage direct currentsource can be effected in a very simple and satisfactory manner.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. Means for. utilizing a low-voltage direct current source to operate ahigh-voltage tubular gas discharge lamp of the type having at each endthereof a lamentary electrode provided with a pair of terminals,comprising the combination with said lamp of a condenser electricallyconnected immediately to one terminal of each of the lamp electrodes, apair of vibrator-type interrupter contacts connected immediately betweenthe respective other terminals of the lamp electrodes, and a low-voltagesource of direct current and an energy-storing inductance connected inseries across said interrupter contacts, said inductance being arrangedto constitute with said contacts a continually operable interrupterutilizing the magnetic eld of said inductance to open said contactsperiodically to discharge energy stored in said inductance through saidelectrodes and said condenser.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1, including at least oneadditional lamp of the same type, and in which said interrupter contactsinclude an additional contact to provide for the opening of one set ofcontacts alternating with the opening of another set, a condenserREFERENCES CITED The following references are of `record in the 15 illeof this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dorgelo Dec. 21, 1937-Babb Apr. 25, 1939 Simmon July 28, 1942 Kurz June 24, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 21, 1941 Great Britain Feb. 12,1945

